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These are five notorious “career criminals” banned from the West End after committing a total of more than 500 crimes.

Westminster Council has won ASBOs against each of the serial offenders in an effort to stop them harassing and robbing Christmas shoppers.

All five are known for committing crime to fund prolific drug habits.

The council - in partnership with the Met police - say the five are responsible for a catalogue of threatening and criminal behaviour, including ‘dipping’ people’s bags to steal phones and purses, robbery, shoplifting, sexual offences and carrying offensive weapons.

They operate mainly around Soho late at night and their actions include loud anti-social behaviour keeping residents awake, using drugs in the doorways of shops and businesses, and scams in which a woman seduces men on the street to lure them to an area where they are mugged by a team of ‘henchmen’.

The ASBOs ban them from entering the West End and a large part of Camden for the next five years.

Councillor Nickie Aiken, Westminster’s cabinet member for community protection, said: “These five serial offenders have been a menace around the West End, intimidating visitors and local people and also proving a blight on businesses.

“We see the ASBOs as a substantial victory which will help us clear central London of these undesirable characters once and for all, as part of our ongoing work to clean up the West End.”

She added: “In the lead-up to the festive season, we will use the full extent of our powers to remove scam artists and thieves who choose to prey on Londoners as they try to enjoy a day’s shopping or a night out in the West End.”